Jamie McMurray Win Proves Roush Wrong

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Filed under: Daytona 500 

McMurray Wins in First Try for New Boss

Jack Roush must be feeling a little embarrassed today after letting Jamie McMurray go at the end of last season.

Jamie McMurray wins Daytona 500

McMurray went on to win the Daytona 500 driving Teresa Earnhardt’s No. 1 Chevrolet allied with his old boss Chip Ganassi.

Roush’s best car finished 3rd.

Martin Truex Jr has to be saying “what if?” as well. Truex left the No. 1 car to go to Michael Waltrip racing this year, where he finished 6th in the Daytona 500.

At the Daytona 500 Champion’s Breakfast this morning McMurray had the best line: “I woke up and 1st thing I was hoping was that Danica wasn’t going to be on the cover of the paper.”

McMurray was being chased down on the last lap by Dale Earnhardt Jr who finished 2nd. Earnhardt is living up to his promise to be ruthless this year.

Earnhardt moved up 17 positions in the closing laps – going from 19th to 2nd.

The win meant a lot for the entire race team. ”I’m just happy for the whole team. I’m happy for all the partners. I’m happy for Felix and Teresa, happy for every single person that’s ever been a part of this team. It’s really important,” said Chip Ganassi.

McMurray thought his chance to win was slipping away when he saw Dale Earnhardt Jr in his rear view mirror. “I looked in my mirror and saw the 88. This guy has won a lot of races here.” But McMurray was fast enough to hold off Earnhardt at the checkered flag.

McMurray tried to describe what it meant to win the Daytona 500.” It’s unbelievable. I can’t really put it into words the way it feels,” said McMurray.

“As a kid growing up, this is what you dream of, of being able to win the Daytona 500.”

Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media

 

 

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14 Comments on Jamie McMurray Win Proves Roush Wrong

  1. Thelma on

    2. give Jr a car that will run and turn him loose. He is still able to drive the car. Hope the momentum goes forward to the next race and so on. PROUD OF YOU JR.

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  2. Evie on

    3. Glad for Jamie, didn’t see Terea in Victory Lane………..

    Kinda normal for her.

    Dale Jr. drove like a Earnhardt, YES, YES. Really feel Dale Jr. is going to do better this year. I will never give up on him. You Go Jr.

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    Close To The Situation... Reply:
    February 15th, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    Of course you didn’t see Teresa in Victory Lane last night. Of all the tracks – Daytona is the worst for her to deal with. She has always struggled with painful emotions over Dale. This is the track he was killed on! Or have you forgotten??

    UNSPOKEN FACT: She struggles whenever there are accidents on the track involving ANY of the drivers. It is a reality she has to bear.

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    Doowah Reply:
    February 16th, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Evie, I think you need to find something else to spend your time on besides worrying about what Teresa is or is not doing.

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  3. Dave Bowles on

    4. I’m happy for Jamie! Dale Jr. was on a mission and drove like it. My knuckles are still white. Although I don’t agree with Teresa’s absentee management acumen and other decisions I still have a deep rooted loyalty to what comes out of that shop. That is ONLY because of the RESPECT for Dale Sr. as a life long resident within 10 minutes of that shop and Kannapolis that is dyed in the wool. To have grown up in this area it was what went on Saturday night as a kid in the sixties. Back in point, that team needed a BIG shot in the arm and they got one. Hats off to Jamie and his team mates!!!!!!

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  4. Marie on

    5. Really happy for Jamie! From Dale Jr’s performance, it looks like he’s back and I am really excited over that!

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  5. karen on

    6. nice to Jamie Mac in the winners circle……it certainly was an emotional win for him…it was refreshing to see a man not afraid to cry.

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  6. Janet on

    7. Gosh, it was great to see Jr. come from where ever he came from in this race. You go Jr. This is your year! Don’t you love that McMurray guy? I knew last year his attitude was positive and he would go places no matter who he drove for this year. It is so good to see someone like him win. If Jr. wasn’t going to win, then I am happy with Jamie.

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  7. John Gee on

    8. All Jr needed was one more lap and he would’ve been in Jamies place, congrats to Jamie, Jr I am glad you ARE STARTING TO KICK SOME BUTT, KEEP IT UP!!

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  8. Mavis on

    9. Congratulations, Jamie!
    Good to see JR with a good finish. My son agreed with DW that it almost looked like Dale Sr the way he came to the front. I know one race does not a season make, but it should give him more confidence for future races.

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    John Gee Reply:
    February 17th, 2010 at 12:58 am

    Agree with you on that.

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  9. Mama Donia on

    10. Good to see Jamie prove Roush wrong, I wish Jr. had won but 2nd is the next best thing. Jr. drove like his Dad, a friend of ours called and said it looked like “BIG E” coming down thru there, and it did. I’ve said all along that Jr. can drive a race car in spite of all the doubters. I like Tony Stewart a lot but i’m glad Jr. proved him wrong after Smokes comment last year. I am a Jr. fan and have stuck with him all along and will regardless of what he does. For Jr. and his crew I just hope it continues and that way his attitude will be better and he will be happier. Love Ya, Junebug!!!!!

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  10. Mama Donia on

    11. JR: Glad to the aggressiveness in ya, that’s the way you were trained, by the best!!!!!

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  11. MIKE on

    12. LEAVE TERESA ALONE. SO SHE DID NOT GO TO THE TRACK, SHE HAS OTHER OWNERS GOING AND DOING THAT JOB. WOULD YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT TRACK AND GO THRU THE WHOLE THING AGAIN AND AGAIN.

    DO NOT FORGET THAT EARNHARDT AND CHILDRESS MOTORS MADE IT TO VICTORY LANE THREE TIMES THIS PAST WEEKEND.

    WAY TO GO JAMIE, GREAT JOB !!!!!!!!!!!!

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